phishphorphun
Members
Since we have so many new members here getting more involved with photography, I feel that the following information should be helpful.
When an image has a copyright on it, you need permission from the photographer to use that image. I mention this because I don't want any of you to get in any trouble "borrowing or stealing" images from websites and posting them on this site or other forums you surf to.
If you want to share an image you have seen on another site or in a reference page, and it is copyrighted, I suggest you post the link to the image. That way you and our webmaster here can't get in any trouble. You don't want to get the reputation of stealing images. I have already seen members banned from sites by the website administrator for posting images without permission. In fact, my images have been used without authorization a few times, and the guilty party has not only been banned, but has been warned of the legal ramifications.
With that said, always remember to save your own photos that you post on the web at a low resolution. Size them so that they are less than 800 pixels wide and 72 ppi. Save them as a JPG file. If you are using Photoshop, use the "Save For Web" choice when saving your web pix in your files. These sized photos won't print that well, so you don't have to worry about someone printing your work on paper stock.
Also, get in the habit of copyrighting all your photos. For those of you that use windows, the "©" can be made by doing the following: Make sure your Num Lock feature is activated on your keyboard. While holding the Alt key, hit the numbers 0-1-6-9 on your numerical keypad. Hold Alt, 0-1-6-9...©. Add your signature and the year next to it.
If you ever want to pursue someone stealing your images, normally a legal warning to them will get their attention and delete the image from the site they have posted them. If that fails, contact the webmaster and provide them with the legal warning. So far, that is all that I have had to do. There have been times when a few on my photos were found being used on non-English speaking sites. I have used my photography friends to help me give warning to those violators overseas. The irony is, that normally I give permission to use the photos. I email the user an agreement that they have to sign, and everyone is happy.
Now, I know there may be a lawyer or two reading this. Without getting into the law verbatim, my unofficial research has found that fines up to $500,000 can be levied for copyright violations. This is mentioned in my stock warning that I issue to image thieves. All I can say is that it has worked for me in the past.
I'm hoping that this thread doesn't turn into a long, legal interpretation of the copyright laws. The intention here is to pass onto those members who may not be aware of the consequences of copying and pasting photos impulsively.
When an image has a copyright on it, you need permission from the photographer to use that image. I mention this because I don't want any of you to get in any trouble "borrowing or stealing" images from websites and posting them on this site or other forums you surf to.
If you want to share an image you have seen on another site or in a reference page, and it is copyrighted, I suggest you post the link to the image. That way you and our webmaster here can't get in any trouble. You don't want to get the reputation of stealing images. I have already seen members banned from sites by the website administrator for posting images without permission. In fact, my images have been used without authorization a few times, and the guilty party has not only been banned, but has been warned of the legal ramifications.
With that said, always remember to save your own photos that you post on the web at a low resolution. Size them so that they are less than 800 pixels wide and 72 ppi. Save them as a JPG file. If you are using Photoshop, use the "Save For Web" choice when saving your web pix in your files. These sized photos won't print that well, so you don't have to worry about someone printing your work on paper stock.
Also, get in the habit of copyrighting all your photos. For those of you that use windows, the "©" can be made by doing the following: Make sure your Num Lock feature is activated on your keyboard. While holding the Alt key, hit the numbers 0-1-6-9 on your numerical keypad. Hold Alt, 0-1-6-9...©. Add your signature and the year next to it.
If you ever want to pursue someone stealing your images, normally a legal warning to them will get their attention and delete the image from the site they have posted them. If that fails, contact the webmaster and provide them with the legal warning. So far, that is all that I have had to do. There have been times when a few on my photos were found being used on non-English speaking sites. I have used my photography friends to help me give warning to those violators overseas. The irony is, that normally I give permission to use the photos. I email the user an agreement that they have to sign, and everyone is happy.
Now, I know there may be a lawyer or two reading this. Without getting into the law verbatim, my unofficial research has found that fines up to $500,000 can be levied for copyright violations. This is mentioned in my stock warning that I issue to image thieves. All I can say is that it has worked for me in the past.
I'm hoping that this thread doesn't turn into a long, legal interpretation of the copyright laws. The intention here is to pass onto those members who may not be aware of the consequences of copying and pasting photos impulsively.
arty0018: :sign0191: 
